Unexpected vocation road-blocks

By Amanda Broussard
Op/Ed
Catholic Online

In a time where the Church is hungry for young vocations, it seems that those young people who are sincerely searching are discouraged by their parents, friends and sometimes even their parish priest. Even though I grew up in an entirely Catholic home, went to mass every Sunday, and was active in my parish, I had never met a sister or nun until I was a junior in high school. And when I did, I knew that I was called. I don't remember her name or even her order, but I remember feeling a sense of longing and I knew I had to be a part of it. I had no idea what a vocation was or how to get started on searching for one, yet God had placed this desire in me for something that I couldn't describe. I spoke to her after mass and she gave me borchures on volunteer opportunities and religious life. I read them all and still wanted to know more. I decided to volunteer for a summer, preferably over-seas, but most of those programs required that volunteers be over 21. During my senior year of high school, one single event in our nation's history completely changed my plans: September 11. My parents asked that I wait to volunteer until after college.

I started college in the fall of 2002 and I am now preparing for graduation. During these past four years of parties, boyfriends, alcohol and (yes) higher education, I never forgot that day sitting in the pew of my home parish during my junior year of high school. Something inside of me wasn't happy and yearned for more. I had made contact with the cloistered Carmelite nuns in San Antonio, but decided that wasn't for me. My parents were furious at my discernment and my mother even said, "I would rather you were dead." I spoke to my college priest who said, "Why would a pretty girl like you want to lock herself up in a convent?" How could my priest side with my parents? Although I had decided the cloister wasn't for me, the words of my priest and of my parents were still haunting.

I eventually found the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles, a traditional, yet apostolic Carmelite order. I visited them during spring break and again after the semester ended (what a way for a college senior to spend her spring break!) It didn't take much time to know that this is the congregation I want to belong to and which God has led me to. My parents are still distant and angry, and even some of my extended family. Which leads to the point of my story: there are so many articles about the downfall of religious life in America and how some religious orders are closing their doors because the old are getting older and the young aren't knocking on the door. My parents would be the first to complain about the decline of religious frevor in America, the lack of morals in society, and the downfall of many religious orders, yet they are the first to tell me my faults when I speak of being a religious!

To all parents of young Catholics in America: Your daughter (or son) needs to discern her calling. One day, you won't be here and she will need to live with the life choices she made. Just because you think she isn't called to religious life doesn't mean she isn't. Religious formation takes place over many years, not just a few months as in marriage! If God is not truly speaking to her heart, she will know in time. But if we wish to see religious communities flurish and grow, we MUST inspire youth of America to truly seek their hearts and stregthen their desire for God and His holy Church. You cannot say, "We need vocations," while on the other hand say, ",,, just not my son/daughter." Your children love you and want you to be proud of them in all they do. Chosing to follow Christ in a religious vocation is not abandonment, but should be a sign that you raised your child right. They were nurtured in the Church and want to pass that on to future generations through their numerous spiritual children. They desire to praise God for His love that you have shown them.

More importantly, God rewards "a hundred fold" to those who follow Him and I truly believe that these blessings also flow to the family who was "left." Nothing can truly seperate the love between a child and his/her parents.

On the Feast of the Holy Trinity, my pastor's homily spoke on the relationship of the Trinity and how it is reflected in our own lives. What a glorious way to thank and love our parents: to praise the God who created them and gave them the strength to raise us in His Church!

When speaking to many young and old Sisters, they all tell me the same thing: "You parents will come around." While that is encouraging to hear, the now is the difficult part. I will, under no circumstance allow any one (or two or three) person stop me from following Christ. But while discerning this singular life-changing event, parental advice and loving-care is so desperately needed. I know that God has placed these obsticles to test me and make my own certainty stronger, but I also desire the approval of my parents. I can only pray that one day my parents will proudly say, "My daughter is a nun."

Contact

Amanda Broussard
https://www.catholic.org TX, US
Amanda Broussard - full-time college student, 512 3968401

Email

etulf_84@hotmail.com

Keywords

vocation, discernment, parent-child relationship

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